Graduation speakers open up about their futures, look back at high school years
Thomas, Smith, and Gunaraj excited to be a part of graduation at ASU next week
Senior Tamillia Thomas has earned the distinction of Valedictorian for the Class of 2018. Thomas has been hard at work throughout her entire four years at PHS, earning a 4.93 cumulative GPA. As first in the class, she will deliver the valedictory at our graduation ceremony. Thomas is also a member of Spanish Honor Society and numerous clubs.
Thomas recalls her favorite memories of high school are those with her friends, spending time at pep rallies together.
One of the biggest challenges for her, like so many other seniors, has been a major case of senioritis, and “trying to stop procrastinating.”
Along with full tuition at the University of Arizona, Thomas has been offered the same from Arizona schools, and has amassed enough scholarship monies to fiance her education as a Chemical Engineering major.
As the Class of 2018 prepares to leave behind exciting legacies and start fulfilling careers, Thomas’ speech will certainly leave her mark on the rest of us.
Senior Tamillia Thomas
Christopher Smith, the Salutatorian for the class of 2018, will be attending Stony Brook University in New York. A product of the school’s STEM program, Smith will finish high school with a 4.89 GPA and numerous clubs and honors under his belt.
Smith was a 2018 National Merit Finalist, as well as a Flinn Scholar Finalist, a testament of his hard work and drive to be successful. At Stony Brook, Smith plans to study applied mathematics with an emphasis in biological systems, and will undoubtedly find success in New York and beyond.
Smith cites Java has both his most difficult and rewarding class, as he “went into it not knowing what it was… but went from knowing zero to most of it.”
He recalls the AP Bio field trip to Catalina Island as his favorite high school memory. While Smith has won over many teachers at the school, he refused to name his favorite, because he plans on shouting one out specifically during his speech at graduation.
Senior Christopher Smith
Joanna Gunaraj is an outstanding role model in and out of the classroom.
The graduation day speaker was nominated out of the top-five percent of her class, an extremely hard percentile to place in. Along with hanging out with friends, Gunaraj also volunteers at Future for Kids, participates in Speech and Debate and also is part of the National Honors Society.
When not out helping the community or going out with friends, Gunaraj is hitting the books. The student has a cumulative 4.63 GPA and has envisioned for herself a job as management in a tech company.
As the end of her four year journey nears, she looks back on all her memorable moments as she finishes up her commencement speech. Now as this new chapter begins she braves the world and paves her road to success.
